Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 19

Nangseon’s Fantastic Adventures – Episode 18

Warm sunlight streamed through the lush greenery, coaxing life to unfurl, and a sturdy plum tree scattered its petals as if in joyful response to the sun’s embrace.

The plum blossoms danced on the gentle breeze before softly settling on the ground.

Beneath the plum tree, a small tiger, several arrows piercing its body, gazed at the scene with clouded, bloodshot eyes.

The petals drifted into the tiger’s blood, creating delicate ripples.

The tiger, breathing shallowly as if teetering on the brink of death, formed a poignant, almost ironic, harmony with the serene scenery.

“You’ve been like that for ten days now,” a woman’s melodious voice broke the silence, reaching the tiger’s ears.

Looking up with heavy-lidded eyes, he saw a beautiful woman standing over him, her gaze filled with compassion, like a benevolent fairy.

“I thought you would have passed on by now… but you neither die nor live, just barely clinging to life, much like myself.”

She knelt and gently stroked the tiger’s head, and a wave of warmth enveloped his weary body.

Just before the tiger’s bloodshot eyes finally closed, she whispered, “Your name is… Daeho (大虎) [meaning ‘Great Tiger’]. Yes, Daeho would suit you well.”

Sreureuk. The Mountain Lord opened his eyes, a flicker of awareness returning. He looked around, then offered a wry smile.

A dream from when he was just a cub, smaller than a wolf, before he had even become a Spirit Beast.

The Mountain Lord was momentarily lost in emotion, reminiscing about that distant time, when his gaze fell upon Blackie, snoring loudly and drooling copiously.

Already a week had passed since he had been traveling with the irksome creature.

He was a nuisance, always eager to pick a fight over the most ridiculous things, but beneath the annoying exterior, he wasn’t a bad sort.

‘Forget about this idiot,’ he thought, shaking his head.

He didn’t feel the need to be overly cautious, not when he held their very lifelines in his grasp.

Having planted a soul fragment within the Bokjwa Token [a type of magical artifact], he could easily cripple them with a mere flicker of stimulation to the Spirit Token.

The Mountain Lord refocused his thoughts and turned his attention to the woman named Hongyeon, who sat before the dying embers of the bonfire, her eyes closed in peaceful meditation.

[Hongyeon.] he projected mentally.

“Yes, Mountain Lord,” she responded, her voice calm and even.

[Could you teach me the incantation to conceal my energy?]

He wasn’t privy to her reasons for accompanying him, but as long as she remained amicable, the Mountain Lord saw no reason to refuse her request.

If his intuition served him correctly, Hongyeon possessed a formidable level of power.

He couldn’t afford to be hesitant when such a powerful individual was willing to share her knowledge.

The Mountain Lord already knew some rudimentary techniques to mask his energy, but he couldn’t achieve the same level of seamless concealment that she could.

This was a common limitation for most Spirit Beasts; the higher their level, the more difficult it became to completely hide their spiritual aura.

In many ways, this skill was essential for the Mountain Lord’s future endeavors.

‘Even if I disguise myself as a human, I’ll still be exposed by Taoists [practitioners of Taoism, a Chinese philosophy and religion] with superior cultivation.’

Mastering the art of energy concealment would undoubtedly prove invaluable.

“It’s not difficult to teach you. So, Mountain Lord, you were aware that I wasn’t a Changui [a type of goblin or mischievous spirit],” she stated, a hint of amusement in her voice.

[You make it abundantly clear; it would be more surprising if I hadn’t noticed. I’m not concerned with your reasons for masquerading as a Changui. Will you teach me?]

“Of course,” she replied with a graceful nod.

The Mountain Lord’s face lit up with anticipation at her ready agreement.

“But, if I impart this knowledge to you, what will you offer me in return, Mountain Lord?” she inquired, her eyes twinkling.

Ahem.

She wasn’t willing to share her secrets without some form of compensation.

[What is it that you desire?]

“Well, you’ve already surmised my true nature, so I’ll be frank; there’s little that I currently need,” she said, her gaze thoughtful.

If he had to choose the words he least wanted to hear from a potential trading partner, it would be that they lacked any specific needs.

The Mountain Lord felt a surge of anxiety, driven by his desperate desire to learn the concealment technique from her.

But if she was indeed a Spirit Beast of her caliber, there was likely nothing among his possessions that would pique her interest.

All he possessed were items that might be of use to lesser Spiritual Creatures or Movie Beasts [Spirit Beasts that can shapeshift], and he also had a Spirit Pill that a Spirit Beast above the Spirit Core level could utilize, but he couldn’t reveal its existence under any circumstances.

‘It’s far too valuable to trade for a mere concealment technique,’ he reasoned.

The Mountain Lord wracked his brain, mentally sifting through the contents of his Gongjeong Pocket [a magical storage pouch].

“However, the master who’s currently sprawled out and sleeping over there is a different matter entirely,” she added, her gaze shifting towards the slumbering Blackie.

‘That’s right,’ he thought, a glimmer of hope igniting within him.

A Spirit Beast who only desires the best for their master.

He couldn’t fathom how he had ended up serving an idiot like Blackie as his master, but if that was the case, then there might be a solution.

“Mountain Lord, you likely possess the Dobonghwan [a rare and potent medicinal herb], do you not?”

‘Crazy,’ he thought, his eyes widening in surprise.

How did she know about the one hidden within his Gongjeong Pocket!

The Mountain Lord’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.

“Ah, I’ve lived for quite a long time, so I’ve developed a keen sense of smell. It’s been a while since I last detected its scent, so I was merely wondering if my suspicions were correct,” she explained with a knowing smile.

Indeed. He possessed five Dobonghwans.

One was sufficient for his own needs, and he had intended to gift the remaining four to Mansam or Myeonghwa, as they didn’t particularly require them.

‘Still, it feels like a bit of a waste…’

One Dobonghwan for a single concealment technique.

Objectively, her concealment technique was undoubtedly worth that much, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was getting the short end of the stick.

“If you give it to me, I’ll also give you this, the Tongsul Book (通術書) [a manual of Taoist techniques and spells],” she offered, her voice laced with intrigue.

‘Tongsul Book!’

The Mountain Lord’s crimson eyes flickered momentarily, then regained their composure.

A Tongsul Book was akin to a martial arts manual for warriors, a meticulously organized compilation of unique formulas and techniques designed to facilitate learning for Taoists.

‘But if it’s not something I need…’

Given the inherent restrictions on elemental affinities, it was challenging to find a Tongsul Book that perfectly suited his specific needs.

Moreover, Tongsul Books were further categorized into grades, spanning from low to high in terms of quality and complexity.

As if divining the Mountain Lord’s thoughts, Hongyeon proceeded to describe the characteristics and formulas contained within the Tongsul Book she had produced.

“The name of the Gongbeop Book [a type of Tongsul Book] is Bunhap Su Gyeol (分合壽結) [meaning ‘Separation and Union of Lifespan Knots’]. Despite its unassuming appearance, it’s a Tongsul Book originating from the Manbo (萬寶) era [a legendary era of prosperity and abundance]. It’s notoriously difficult to master, but if you succeed, the path to becoming a Divine Beast won’t seem so distant.”

‘Divine Beast!’

The pinnacle that all Spirit Beasts aspired to reach.

It was a far-off dream for the Mountain Lord, but one that he had always secretly harbored in his heart.

Furthermore, a Tongsul Book specifically tailored for Spirit Beasts.

The Mountain Lord, who had meticulously studied the Sanhaebalsango [a comprehensive encyclopedia of mythical creatures and geography], had never even encountered mention of a Tongsul Book designed for Spirit Beasts.

It was generally accepted that the protagonists were human, resulting in a scarcity of information pertaining to Spirit Beasts.

Tongsul Books were primarily created by Taoists for the benefit of future generations, and as such, they were predominantly human-centric.

But this was a Tongsul Book exclusively for Spirit Beasts, and the primary feature of this particular Tongsul aligned perfectly with the Mountain Lord’s aspirations.

‘A Gongbeop that divides the Inner Core…’

As a Spirit Beast’s level increased, their Inner Core would gradually expand.

It was commonly believed that a total of six Inner Cores would be formed, and upon uniting them into a single entity, the Spirit Beast would be reborn as a Divine Beast.

However, this Tongsul Book advocated for dividing the Inner Core from the moment they became Spiritual Creatures, resulting in a total of 18 Inner Cores upon reaching the Eternal level.

By dividing the Inner Core, they would undoubtedly gain greater control over the immense power of Divine Power.

When utilizing Divine Power, the fragmented nature of the path meant that it couldn’t unleash overwhelming force, but it also translated to enhanced efficiency and stability.

Later, if the 18 Inner Cores were combined into one to ascend to the level of a Divine Beast, they would possess even greater power than ordinary Divine Beasts.

Of course, dividing the Inner Core was an undertaking that couldn’t be achieved through ordinary effort, and the Divine Power itself would suffer a slight reduction in potency, but when considering the long-term benefits, it couldn’t be deemed a disadvantage.

In the first place, the Divine Power that the Mountain Lord possessed was almost too much for him to handle.

If he could wield it with greater finesse, it would be worth learning even if the power was somewhat diminished.

‘As my level increases, it can be supplemented…’

“It appears to be the unique Tongsul of a certain Spirit Beast. It must have belonged to a renowned Spirit Beast. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been capable of creating a Tongsul of this caliber… Unfortunately, it didn’t suit my own needs, so I was unable to learn it. What are your thoughts?” she inquired, her eyes fixed on the Mountain Lord.

He liked it very much.

At this point, it was worth the trade.

No, the Dobonghwan wasn’t enough! A concealment formula and a top-tier Tongsul Book.

[Is it alright? You’re going to lose out…] he blurted out, a pang of conscience striking him, knowing that she couldn’t possibly be unaware of its true value.

“It’s alright. If you’re so concerned, it wouldn’t hurt to treat our master a little better,” she replied with a subtle smile.

Treat Blackie better?

‘Since her level is comparable to mine, is she suggesting that I help him train?’

The Mountain Lord momentarily misinterpreted her words and nodded his head vigorously.

He promptly handed over the Dobonghwan and accepted the Tongsul Book.

The Tongsul Book was encased within an Ansi Stone [a type of magical stone], as one would expect from something crafted by a Spirit Beast, and when he channeled his spiritual power into it, dense words materialized and floated into the air.

As he began to peruse the text, Hongyeon approached him and imparted the formulas for the concealment technique, after which she resumed her meditative posture.

The Mountain Lord, engrossed in her teachings, devoted himself to training, oblivious to the passage of time.

His body wasn’t in perfect condition, but it was an improvement over its previous state, making it possible to learn the technique.

And observing the scene from above, an eagle Spirit Creature soared through the sky, traversing the vast expanse.

* * *

Waking up from his slumber, Blackie squinted at Hongyeon and the Mountain Lord, who appeared to be engaged in an amicable conversation.

‘What is going on…’

It had been rare to witness them exchange even a single word for the past week, but upon waking up, he found them smiling and conversing with each other!

‘But I don’t understand a single word of what they’re saying!’

It was clearly a language, but one that was completely incomprehensible to Blackie.

[That’s right, in the 1-Star, the flow of spiritual energy…] he heard the Mountain Lord say.

“Yes, the spiritual blood of the 384 blood points, yes, that’s correct. If you do that, you should divide it when you do the Jinsu Myeonghwa (進獸皿和) [the process of evolving into a Movie Spirit Beast],” Hongyeon replied.

He had no idea what they were talking about.

Blackie felt excluded and became increasingly despondent.

From what he could gather about Jinsu Myeonghwa, it seemed like they were discussing the process of evolving into a Movie Spirit Beast, but it was a topic that was far beyond Blackie’s current level of understanding.

[What, what are you doing!] Blackie interjected, barging in between them for no apparent reason.

[Did you wake up? Then let’s get going,] the Mountain Lord said, ignoring Blackie’s outburst.

“Yes, let’s do that,” Hongyeon agreed.

Seeing them preparing to depart as if they had reached a prior agreement, Blackie glared at them with a sulky expression.

‘What is this,’ he thought, a strange sense of resentment bubbling within him.

Blackie approached the Mountain Lord, who was already ascending the hill, and deliberately bumped into him, seeking a confrontation.

[Hey! Are you trying to die?]

[Yes, you’re too big!] the Mountain Lord retorted.

[What kind of nonsense is that?] Blackie exclaimed.

They were traversing an open hill, not a narrow mountain path, so there was ample space to maneuver.

The Mountain Lord, exasperated by Blackie’s senseless provocation, raised his front paw and slapped the other tiger across the face.

[Ouch! Why are you hitting me! Why are you hitting me!] Blackie whined.

[Move aside, don’t bother me,] the Mountain Lord growled.

Just as he was about to resume his ascent, the Mountain Lord’s head snapped around!

Blackie’s black and thick front paw had struck the Mountain Lord’s head!

[Hmph! They say you give back in multiples for what you receive,] Blackie declared, misusing the idiom to justify his actions.

The Mountain Lord remained silent for a moment, his head still turned to the side.

‘Should I kill him?’ he pondered seriously.

But if he genuinely attempted to harm Blackie, Hongyeon wouldn’t stand idly by.

He possessed the Bokjwa Token, but he didn’t want to jeopardize his relationship with her, given that she was a high-level Spirit Beast who might prove helpful in the future.

However, if he remained passive, he would inevitably succumb to frustration.

The Mountain Lord observed Blackie’s gleeful expression and charged forward in an instant.

[Oh, oh!] Blackie yelped in surprise.

Papapak! The Mountain Lord, rearing up on his hind legs, unleashed a flurry of lightning-fast blows with his front paws, landing four solid hits.

Blackie didn’t remain passive either. As if anticipating the attack, he also rose up on his hind legs and retaliated with his own front paws.

The two tigers, who had been bickering for some time, were now locked in a fierce struggle, biting at each other’s necks.

[If my body was healthy, you’d be a one-hit kill! How dare you act up!] the Mountain Lord roared.

[Hmph! That’s why I’m going easy on you now! Can’t you see? If I had unleashed my original power, your belly would be facing the sky!] Blackie retorted.

The two tigers continued to bite at each other’s necks, refusing to release their grip. But was it merely an illusion that their fight resembled two girls pulling at each other’s hair?

“What on earth are you doing…” Hongyeon sighed, shaking her head.

[T, this guy hit me first! It’s his fault!] Blackie whined, pointing an accusing paw at the Mountain Lord.

[What nonsense! You black bastard, didn’t you start acting like a dog first!] the Mountain Lord retorted, completely forgetting his own instigation.

It was quite a sight to behold, witnessing him tattling like a child.

[D, don’t call me black! I have a name, Blackie!] Blackie protested.

[Why is a tiger cub proudly proclaiming that while using a fox name?] the Mountain Lord scoffed.

[F, fox name? What do you mean fox name! Where is it a fox name!] Blackie stammered, clearly oblivious to the meaning of his own name.

Did this idiot not even realize that Hori meant fox? It was truly absurd.

[Then what’s your name! Mountain Lord can’t be your name!] Blackie demanded.

[Hmph, don’t be surprised when you hear my name, Blackie. This Mountain Lord’s name is-] the Mountain Lord began, puffing out his chest.

But then.

Swish!